Dragonfly

Dragonfly, 52 West Port
http://www.dragonflycocktailbar.com

Situated on the edge of the Grassmarket, the Dragonfly is a refreshing change from the usual overpriced tourist-orientated pubs to be found in the area. They have a wide selection of cocktails on their menu and are happy to take requests if what you’d like isn’t already there. The menu is organised into sections like a food menu (think Appetisers, Mains and Desserts) so it’s the perfect excuse to have a three-course cocktail meal! Most cocktails are around £6 or £7, which is about average for an Edinburgh cocktail bar. My favourite is the “Raspberry Ripple”, which tastes exactly like it sounds – deliciously ice-creamy and the glass is decorated with hundreds and thousands.

As the name Dragonfly suggests, the bar is decorated with Oriental style wallpaper and paintings. If you can, grab one of the comfy sofas up on the balcony to sit and sip your cocktails and admire the gorgeous chandeliers. There is also a room in the back which can be hired out if you’re having a private function. One thing I love about Dragonfly is that they always have great music playing, no MTV music channels here!